Electric plug extractor



15, 1964 H. J. SUNDERLIN 3,

ELECTRIC PLUG EXTRACTOR Filed Aug. 8, 1962 INVENTOR.

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3,160,947 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 I p I 7 3,160,947 ELECTRIC PLUG EXTRACTOR Harold I. Sunderlin, 20 S. Ash, Palatine, Ill. Filed Aug. '8, 1962, Ser. No. 215,714 '4 Claims. (Cl. 29-206) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in an electric-plug extractor and more particularly to a device which is removably attached to a standard electric prong-type plug and is adapted-to facilitate the safe removal o'fthe plugfroma-power outlet receptacle.

An important object of my invention is to provide a simple and'inexpensive yet highly effective device for extracting a prong-typeplugfrom an associated power outlet while avoiding developing any amount of separating strain between the plug and'an electric cord connected thereto.

Yet another object of my inventionis to provide an electricplug extractor composed of a non-conductive material and one which may be conveniently attached to an electric prong-type'plug.

Still another object of my invention is toprovide an electric plug extractor which will prevent the possibility of creating a short circuit and.subsequent electricshock to theuser during the removal of 'the electric plug from the power out-let receptacle.

'Other objects will appear hereinafter.

Theinvention' consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understoodbyreference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction; and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan View showing my extractor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational-view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View showing my extractor associated with an electric, prong-type plug.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, my extractor is formed from a blank of non-conductive material generally indicated at 10. The material forming my extractor is preferably composed of molded plastic which has the desired property of being flexible, so as to permit the extractor to be bent or flexed into a wrap-around, sling-type carrier for an electric prong-type plug.

The extractor comprises a main body portion 11 which is of a size corresponding to the under surface of an electric plug and which has formed therein a pair of spaced apart, parallelly extending slots 12 through which project the prongs 13 of an electric plug 14, as shown in FIG. 3.

Extending from opposite sides of the body portion 11 of the extractor are elongated arms 15 and 16. Each of the arms 15 and 16 are of similar construction and extend an equal distance away from the body portion 11. Each of the arms 15 and 16 terminate at their free ends in the circular fingerpieces 17 and 18, which are of substantially identical configuration.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the arm 16 adjacent its fingerpiece 18 is provided with a stud 19 extending perpendicularly with respect to one side surface thereof. The arm 15 adjacent its fingerpiece 17 has formed therein an aperture 20 of a size equal to the diameter of the stud 19.

FIG. 3 illustrates the application of my extractor to a standard double-prong electric plug 14. The prongs 13 of the plug 14 are projected through the slots 12 formed in the central body portion 11 of the extractor 10. The body portion 11 engages in facial abutment the under surface of the plug 14 and is of a size to shield this surface from the corresponding exposed surface 21 of the power outlet receptacle 22 without interfering with the. electrical connection between the plug and such receptacle. In this relationship, the body portion 11 isin effect a flash shield against any electrical arcing which might occur at the instant of insertion of the plug 14'into the power outlet receptacle 22.

'With the body portion 11 so positioned, the arms 15 and 16 are folded back upon the opposite sides 23 and 24,

respectively, of the plug '14, bringing the fingerpieces 17 and 18 thereof into alignment with each other. In such 'position,'the stud 19 carried by the arm '16 is frictionally projected into the aperture 26 formed in the arm 15, thus retaining the arms '15 and 16 in embracingposition with respect to the plug 14 and retaining the fingerpieces 17 and 18 in alignment.

The fingerpieces 17 and 18 when brought together in aligned relationship in the manner hereinbefore described provide a reinforced pull which conveniently receives-a finger, as illustrated in FIG. 3, for exerting a withdrawing force and thus extracting the plug from the receptacle.

By (house of my electric plug extractor, the withdrawal of an electric plug from a power outlet receptacle is easily and safely achieved. The force of withdrawing pull applied'by the user is'evenly distributed throughout the entire under surface of the plug 14, regardless of the direction of the pull, and thus properly removes the plug from the receptacle 22. Through the useof my electric plug extractor, one may prevent wear and tear on the electric cord and its connection with the ,plug, thus prolonging the life of such instrumentality.

While 'I have'illustrated and described the preferred 7 form of construction for carrying my invention-into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departingfrom thespirit of'the-invention. *I-therefore do not wish to be limited to 'the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what'I claim as new and desire to. protect by'Letters Patent is:

1. An electric plug extractor formed from .a fiat blank of non-conductive material adapted to embrace a conventional form of electric plug with the prongs thereof exposed for insertion into an associated power outlet,

(0) said extractor having an enlarged body portion provided with spaced parallel slots through which the prongs of the plug may project so that said body portion may lie in facial abutment with the contacting side of the plug,

(12) integrally formed embracing members extending laterally from said body in opposite directions with respect to each other for embracing corresponding opposite sides of the plug when said body portion is in facial abutment with the contacting side thereof,

(0) finger gripping elements integrally formed on the opposite free end of said embracing members and extending in a direction opposite to the prongs of the plug and in facial abutment with respect to each other when said extractor is mounted on the plug,

(d) and means for releasably latching said embracing members about the sides of the plug and said finger gripping elements together in facial abutment to the rear of the plug when said extractor is mounted thereon.

2. An electric plug extractor formed from a flat blank of non-conductive material adapted to embrace a conventional form of electric plug with the prongs thereof exposed for insertion into an associated power outlet.

(a) said extractor having an enlarged body portion provided with spaced parallel slots through which the prongs of the plug may project so that said body portion may lie in facial abutment with the contacting side of the plug,

(b) integrally formed embracing arms extending laterof the plug and said finger gripping elements in ally from said body in opposite directions with facial abutment and in spaced relation with respect respect to each other for embracing corresponding to said body portion of said extractor when said sides of the plug when said body portion is in facial body portion is mounted in facial abutment upon abutment with the contacting side thereof, 5 the contacting side of the plug.

(0) ringlike fingerpieces integrally formed on the op- 4. An electric plug extractor formed from a flat blank posite free end of said embracing arms and extending of non-conductive material adapted to embrace a conin a direction opposite to the prongs of the plug ventional form of electric plug with the prongs thereof and in facial abutment with respect to each other exposed for insertion into an associated power outlet, when said extractor is mounted on the plug, (a) said extractor having an enlarged body portion (d) and means for releasably latching said embracing provided with spaced parallel slots through which arms about the sides of the plug and said circular the prongs of the plug may project so that said body fingerpieces together in facial abutment to the rear portion may lie in facial abutment with the contactof the plug when said extractor is mounted thereon. ing side of the plug,

3. An electric plug extractor formed from a fiat (b) integrally formed embracing arms extending laterblank of non-conductive material adapted to embrace allyfrom said body in opposite directions with rea conventional form of electric plug with the prongs spect to each other for embracing corresponding thereof exposed for insertion into an associated power sides of the plug when said body portion is in facial outlet, abutment with the contacting side thereof,

(a) said extractor having an enlarged body portion (c) ringlike fingerpieces integrally formed on the opprovided with spaced parallel slots through which posite free end of said embracing arms and extending the prongs of the plug may project so that said body in a direction opposite to the prongs of the plug and portion may lie in facial abutment with the contacting in facial abutment with respect to each other when side of the plug, said extractor is mounted on the plug,

(b) integrally formed embracing members extending (d) and a latch stud extending perpendicularly from laterally from said body in opposite directions with one side of one of said embracing arms adjacent its respect to each other for embracing corresponding integrally formed fingerpieces for frictional insertion opposite sides of the plug when said body portion into an aperture formed in the other of said embracis in facial abutment with the contacting side thereof, ing arms adjacent its integrally formed fingerpieces (c) finger gripping elements integrally formed on the for releasably latching said embracing arms about opposite free end of said embracing members and the sides of the plug and said fingerpieces in facial extending in a direction opposite to the prongs of the plug and in facial abutment with respect to each other when said extractor is mounted on the P (d) and a latch stud extending perpendicularly from one side of one of said embracing members adjacent its integrally formed finger gripping element for frictional insertion into an aperture formed in the abutment and in spaced relation with respect to said body portion of said extractor when said body portion is mounted in facial abutment upon the contacting side of the plug.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS other of said embracing members adjacent its in- 40 1,618,723 Pearson Feb. 22, 1927 tegrally formed finger gripping element for releasably 1,697,979 Keddy Jan. 8, 1929 latching said embracing members about the sides 3,008,115 Oakes Nov. 7, 1961 

1. AN ELECTRIC PLUG EXTRACTOR FORMED FROM A FLAT BLANK OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL ADAPTED TO EMBRACE A CONVENTIONAL FORM OF ELECTRIC PLUG WITH THE PRONGS THEREOF EXPOSED FOR INSERTION INTO AN ASSOCIATED POWER OUTLET, (A) SAID EXTRACTOR HAVING AN ENLARGED BODY PORTION PROVED WITH SPACED PARALLEL SLOTS THROUGH WHICH THE PRONGS OF THE PLUG MAY PROJECT SO THAT BODY PORTION MAY LIE IN FACIAL ABUTMENT WITH THE CONTACTING SIDE OF THE PLUG, (B) INTEGRALLY FOR EMBRACING MEMBERS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID BODY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER FOR EMBRACING CORRESPONDING OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE PLUG WHEN SAID BODY PORTION IS IN FACIAL ABUTMENT WITH THE CONTACTING SIDE THEREOF, (C) FINGER GRIPPING ELEMENTS INTEGRALLY FORMED ON THE OPPOSITE FREE END OF SAID EMBRACING MEMBERS AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE PRONGS OF THE PLUG AND IN FACIAL ABUTMENT WITH RESPECT TO EACH OTHER WHEN SAID EXTRACTOR IS MOUNTED ON THE PLUG, (D) AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY LATCHING SAID EMBRACING MEMBERS ABOUT THE SIDES OF THE PLUG AND SAID FINGER GRIPPING ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN FACIAL ABUTMENT TO THE REAR OF THE PLUG WHEN SAID EXTRACTOR IS MOUNTED THEREON. 